Kalamazoo to consider data center ‘task force’ alongside moratorium
Planning commissioners unanimously recommended the data center moratorium zoning amendment, along with the task force recommendation, to the City Commission. The task force idea came up during public comment when resident Katie Bloom, who said she also serves on the city’s Environmental Concerns Committee, expressed support for the moratorium and called for a task force representing a wide range of stakeholders. Commissioners agreed with Bloom and added the amendment to their recommendation.
During the Kalamazoo Planning Commission meeting Thursday, September 3, commissioners recommended creating a task force as part of the city’s work on regulations for data centers and other uses subject to a recently adopted moratorium.
Planning commissioners were asked to make a recommendation on the proposed zoning amendment but added a recommendation that the city develop a task force.
“We’re recommending the City Commission approve text amendments to the zoning ordinance, Chapter 50, Article 4.1, General Provisions. The proposed amendment is to have the moratorium on data centers and other similar uses in the Chapter 50 zoning ordinance, with the recommended development of a cross-functional, multi-interest task force,” Commissioner Sakhi Vyas said while making the motion.
The task force recommendation came during a public hearing on proposed text amendments that would incorporate the moratorium into the city’s zoning ordinance. The City Commission already established the moratorium by resolution during their August 17 meeting. City staff is also pursuing a zoning ordinance amendment that would incorporate the moratorium into the city’s zoning code.
During the meeting, Commissioner Thomas Kostrzewa asked whether the city had any pending applications for uses covered by the moratorium: data centers, battery energy storage systems, cryptocurrency mining centers, and artificial intelligence data centers. City staff said there were none.
The Kalamazoo City Commission approved a resolution establishing the moratorium during their last meeting. The proposed amendment then went to the planning commission for a public hearing and recommendation before returning to the City Commission for consideration. If approved, the ordinance would go into effect ten days later.
Planning commissioners unanimously recommended the zoning amendment, along with the task force recommendation, to the City Commission. The task force idea came up during public comment when resident Katie Bloom, who said she also serves on the city’s Environmental Concerns Committee, expressed support for the moratorium and called for a task force representing a wide range of stakeholders. Commissioners agreed with Bloom and added the amendment to their recommendation.
The Kalamazoo City Commission meets this Tuesday, September 8.
Maxwell Knauer is a staff writer for Watershed Voice.
Author
Related Articles
Kalamazoo passes robust surveillance contract policy mandating all related items must come to commission
Kalamazoo City Commissioners passed a policy change which will bring all Flock and related surveillance contracts directly to commissioners for consideration, regardless of the price of the contract.
Kalamazoo commissioners seek broader oversight of surveillance technology
During the Kalamazoo City Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 8, commissioners decided to delay the formal adoption of a policy that would require contracts involving automated license plate reader technology to come before the City Commission, regardless of cost.
Vice Mayor Drew Duncan proposed expanding the amendment, asking that the policy incorporate all law enforcement surveillance technology, not just license plate readers.
A different kind of house music
This Saturday in Kalamazoo roughly a dozen performers and bands will play mini-concerts around the Vine neighborhood during a five-hour Vine Porch Crawl.
The plan is to start at 2 p.m. at the Vine Neighborhood Association (806 S. Westnedge Ave.) with a set by Persian Rugg to kick off the neighborhood tour. For the full lineup and locations, read this article.
